Adjustable roof ventilator

ABSTRACT

An adjustable roof ventilator has a base, a ventilation assembly and an interlocking arrangement for securing the ventilation assembly to the base at a desired tilt angle. The base has a bottom peripheral flange mountable on a pitched roof, and an elbow member upwardly projecting from the flange. The ventilation assembly has an upper venting arrangement in communication with a lower duct portion having front, rear and side walls defining a cross-sectional configuration tiltably mountable on the elbow member. The side walls have lower rounded front edges and the front wall has a lower edge extending between upper ends of the rounded edges so that the rounded edges are in pivotal engagement against the flange of the base as the rear wall of the duct portion is in sliding engagement against a curving rear wall of the elbow member when the duct portion is tiltably mounted on the elbow member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to roof ventilation, and more particularly to an adjustable roof ventilator.

BACKGROUND

Known in the art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,659 (Drew), 3,895,568 (Stone), 4,526,091 (Sharp), 4,572,059 (Ramsay), 4,781,401 (Sharp), 4,895,066 (Carnahan), 5,409,266 (Baker), 5,472,241 (Kosik, Jr. et al.), 5,947,816 (Schiedegger et al.), 6,019,561 (Thomson et al.), 6,293,862 (Jafine et al.), 6,932,690 (Ramsay), 7,232,370 (Newell) and US patent application No. 2007/0022688 (Fisher), which provide various examples of ventilating devices for roof or other structures. Those that can be mounted on a pitched roof and are vertically adjustable generally have many parts, so they may not be easy to install and adjust. Their range of adjustment is also generally limited due to their constructions, and the adjustable components are often prone to jams. In some cases, the adjustability is detrimental to the volume of air that may pass across the ventilating device.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable roof ventilator mountable on a pitched roof which has an extensive range of tilt angles while remaining waterproof.

Another objet of the invention is to provide such an adjustable roof ventilator which is simple in construction and thus has few parts.

Another objet of the invention is to provide such an adjustable roof ventilator which is easy to install and adjust.

Another objet of the invention is to provide such an adjustable roof ventilator which is efficient and long-lasting.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable roof ventilator mountable on a pitched roof, comprising:

-   -   a base having a bottom peripheral flange mountable on the         pitched roof, and an elbow member upwardly projecting from the         bottom peripheral flange, the elbow member having a front wall,         a forwardly curving rear wall extending opposite the front wall         of the elbow member, and opposite side walls extending between         the front and rear walls of the elbow member;     -   a ventilation assembly having an upper venting arrangement, and         a lower duct portion in communication with the venting         arrangement, the lower duct portion having opposite front and         rear walls and opposite side walls defining a cross-sectional         configuration tiltably mountable on the elbow member of the         base, the side walls of the lower duct portion having lower         rounded front edges and the front wall of the lower duct portion         having a lower edge extending between upper ends of the rounded         edges so that the rounded edges are in pivotal engagement         against the peripheral flange of the base as the rear wall of         the lower duct portion is in sliding engagement against the rear         wall of the elbow member when the lower duct portion is tiltably         mounted on the elbow member; and     -   an interlocking arrangement for securing the ventilation         assembly to the base at a desired tilt angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of preferred embodiments will be given herein below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of an adjustable roof ventilator according to the invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E are elevation views of parts of the adjustable roof ventilator according to the invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are elevation views showing the adjustable roof ventilator according to the invention in different adjusted tilt positions.

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of a possible base of the adjustable roof ventilator according to the invention.

FIG. 4B is an elevation view of side walls of the base shown in FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an adjustable roof ventilator according to the invention. The ventilator is mountable on a pitched roof as depicted by dashed line 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ventilator has a base 4 having a bottom peripheral flange 6 mountable on the pitched roof 2, and an elbow member 8 upwardly projecting from the bottom peripheral flange 6. The elbow member 8 has a front wall 10, a forwardly curving rear wall 12 extending opposite the front wall 10, and opposite side walls 14, 16 extending between the front and rear walls 10, 12.

The ventilator also has a ventilation assembly 18 having an upper venting arrangement 20, and a lower duct portion 22 in communication with the upper venting arrangement 20. The lower duct portion 22 has opposite front and rear walls 24, 26 and opposite side walls 28, 30 defining a cross-sectional configuration tiltably mountable on the elbow member 8 of the base 4. The side walls 28, 30 have lower rounded front edges 32, 34 and the front wall 24 has a lower edge 36 extending between upper ends of the rounded edges 32, 34 so that the rounded edges 32, 34 are in pivotal engagement against the peripheral flange 6 of the base 4 as the rear wall 26 of the lower duct portion 22 is in sliding engagement against the rear wall 12 of the elbow member 8 when the lower duct portion 22 is tiltably mounted on the elbow member 8, as shown for example in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E which illustrate the roof ventilator in different adjusted tilt positions.

An interlocking arrangement for example made of screws 38 or other like fasteners engageable with the lower duct portion 22 and the elbow member 8 is provided for securing the ventilation assembly 18 to the base 4 at a desired tilt angle.

The upper venting arrangement 20 may have a grating portion 40 extending above the lower duct portion 30 and defining vent openings 42 preferably all around the upper venting arrangement 20. The upper venting arrangement 20 may advantageously be provided with peripheral outwardly declining fins 44 mountable on the grating portion 40 in registration with the vent openings 42 for defining airflow passages in communication with the vent openings 42. The upper venting arrangement 20 may also have a cap 46 mountable on an upper end of the grating portion 40. The cap 46 may be embossed for drainage of water, snow or ice.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the grating portion 40 and the lower duct portion 20 may advantageously be adjoining portions of a same sheet of material like e.g. aluminum, galvanized or stainless steel, folded and having opposite ends attached together to form an open ended boxlike structure, as shown in FIG. 1. The vent openings 42 may advantageously be made of rows 48 of holes integrally made in the sheet of material, e.g. punched.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the front wall 10 of the elbow member 8 preferably has a flat shape upwardly and forwardly slanting with respect to a plane defined by the bottom peripheral flange 6 so that the lower edge 36 of the front wall 24 of the lower duct portion 22 extends next to the front wall 10 of the elbow member 8 when the lower duct portion 22 is tiltably mounted on the elbow member 8. The forwardly slanting angle of the front wall 10 with respect to the plane defined by the bottom peripheral flange 6 may correspond to a minimum tilting angle of the ventilation assembly 18 on the base 4.

A distance between lower edges of the front and rear walls 10, 12 of the elbow member 8 preferably defines a curvature radius of the rear wall 12 with respect to the lower edge of the front wall 10. The distance between the lower edges of the front and rear walls 10, 12 is then slightly greater than a distance between upper edges of the front and rear walls 10, 12.

Referring also to FIG. 2C, the aforesaid aspects of the front and rear walls 10, 12 are apparent on the profile of the side walls 14, 16, which thus have a lower edge 62 longer than the upper edge 64, an upwardly and forwardly slanting front edge 66, and a curved rear edge 68 following a curvature radius as depicted by the dashed line 70.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A, the front wall 10 of the elbow member 8 preferably has a height exceeding a height whereat the lower edge 36 of the front wall 24 of the lower duct portion 22 extends relative to lower edges 50 of the other walls 26, 28, 30 of the lower duct portion 22 to prevent water from seeping inside the ventilator.

The ventilation assembly 18 preferably has an adjustable tilting range relative to the base 4 corresponding to vertical/horizontal roof pitch ratios of 2/12 to 18/12 or more (representing a rise in inches over a one foot run). The angles of the front and rear walls 10, 12 of the elbow member 8 are preferably such that the ventilation assembly 18 automatically has a 2/12 inclination (tilt) angle when it is mounted on the base 4, which facilitates its installation. The lower front cut 36 of lower duct portion 22 of the ventilation assembly 18 increases the possible tilt angle range while allowing an easier and quicker angle adjustment of the ventilator. The lower rounded front edges 32, 34 of the side walls 28, 30 provide a pivoting arrangement such that the tilting of the ventilation assembly 18 over the base 4 produces no significant spacings, thereby preventing water and bug leaks. The lower front cut 36 and the lower rounded front edges 32, 34 form an arrangement in which the ventilation assembly 18 pivots/tilts over the base 4 with no jamming, and provide an extensive range of possible tilt angles while letting pass a large volume of air.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E shows the roof ventilator according to the invention in adjusted tilt positions for roofs having respectively a pitch of 2/12, 5/12, 6/12, 12/12 and 18/12.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the rear wall 12 may be provided with pre-punched marks 52 facilitating the screwing of the rear walls 12, 26 together at the desired tilt position. The rear wall 12 may have opposite folding flanges 54, 56 for assembly with the side walls 14, 16 of the elbow member 8 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C).

Referring to FIG. 2A, similar pre-punched marks 76 may be made in the lower duct portion 22 for facilitating the screwing of the lower duct portion 22 on the elbow member 8 (as shown in FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 2D, similar pre-punched marks 58 may be made in the bottom flange 6 for facilitating the screwing of the bottom flange 6 onto a roof. The bottom flange 6 may also have inner folding flanges 60 for assembly with the front, rear and side walls 10, 12, 14, 16 of the elbow member 8.

Referring to FIG. 2E, the front wall 10 may also have opposite folding flanges 72, 74 for assembly with the side walls 14, 16 of the elbow member 8 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C).

Table I below provides a non-limitative example of typical approximate dimensions of certain parts of the ventilator according to the invention.

TABLE I size of the bottom flange 6 (FIG. 2D): 20 in × 20 in (50.8 cm × 50.8 cm) size of the opening in the bottom flange 6 (FIG. 2D): 11.75 in × 11.75 in (29.85 cm × 29.85 cm) length of the lower edge 62 of the side walls 14, 16, equal to the curvature radius of the rear edge 68 (FIG. 2C): 11.75 in (29.85 cm) length of the upper edge 64 of the side walls 14, 16 (FIG. 2C): 10 in (25.4 cm) height of the front wall 10 (FIG. 2E): 3 in (7.62) width of the rear wall 12 including the folding flanges 54, 56 (FIG. 2B): 12.75 in (32.39 cm) height of the rear wall 12 (FIG. 2B): 11 in (27.94 cm) width of the each wall 24, 26, 28, 30 of the lower duct portion 22 (FIG. 2A): 11.93 in (30.30 cm) curvature radius of the lower rounded front edges 32, 34 (FIG. 2A): 3.162 in (8.031) height of the lower edge 36 of the front wall 24 with respect to the lower edges 50 of the other walls 26, 28, 30 (FIG. 2A): 2 in (5.08 cm)

The airflow of the ventilator will be at its maximum (e.g. 117 in³ with the above dimensions) when vertically adjusted on a pitched roof having a pitch of 5/12 or more (having a greater slope).

Referring to FIG. 4A, the rear wall 12 of the elbow member 8 may advantageously have a lower flat portion 78 and an upper curving portion 80, so as to compensate for the increase of the tilt radius as the ventilation assembly 18 (as shown in FIG. 1) is tilted on the base 4 and the pivot axis moves forwards during the tilting as a result of the rolling of the rounded edges 32, 34 (as shown in FIG. 1) on the peripheral flange 6. The front wall 10 of the elbow member 8 is preferably slanted for this reason. Likewise, the lower flat portion 78 of the rear wall 12 is also preferably forwardly slanted. The slanting angle of the lower flat portion 78 may be less than that of the front wall 10 with respect to the plane defined by the peripheral flange 6 of the base 4, depending on the sizes of the parts. For example, for dimensions like those in Table I, the angle between the lower flat portion and the plane defined by the peripheral flange 6 may be 84° while the angle between the front wall 10 and the plane may be 103°. Such a configuration of the elbow member 8 contributes to reducing the possible gap between the rear wall 12 of the elbow member 8 and the rear wall 26 of the lower duct portion 22 (as shown in FIG. 1; the same applies to the front wall 10 and the lower edge 36 as shown in FIG. 1) as the ventilation assembly 18 is tilted on the elbow member 8, thus improving water and bug leak prevention. The lower flat portion 78 may have a height exceeding a height of the front wall 10, and the upper curving portion 80 may have a greater extent (upward length) than the lower flat portion 78.

Referring to FIG. 4B showing the side walls 14, 16 for the configuration of the elbow member 8 shown in FIG. 4A, the curving radius 70 of the upper rear edge 68B, for dimensions like those in Table I, may be 12 in (30.48 cm), with the upper rear edge 68B having a length (upward extent) of 7 in (17.78 cm) and the lower rear edge 68A having a length (upward extent) of 4 in (10.16 cm).

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. For example, the interlocking arrangement may be made of clamping, clicking or latching elements instead of screws 38 if desired. The upper venting arrangement 20 may have other venting configurations and shapes, for example as a turbine vent head if desired. The rear wall 12 of the elbow member 8 may exhibit a series of flat portions successively inclined from one another in order to define a generally forwardly curving outer profile. 

1. An adjustable roof ventilator mountable on a pitched roof, comprising: a base having a bottom peripheral flange mountable on the pitched roof, and an elbow member upwardly projecting from the bottom peripheral flange, the elbow member having a front wall, a forwardly curving rear wall extending opposite the front wall of the elbow member, and opposite side walls extending between the front and rear walls of the elbow member; a ventilation assembly having an upper venting arrangement, and a lower duct portion in communication with the venting arrangement, the lower duct portion having opposite front and rear walls and opposite side walls defining a cross-sectional configuration tiltably mountable on the elbow member of the base, the side walls of the lower duct portion having lower rounded front edges and the front wall of the lower duct portion having a lower edge extending between upper ends of the rounded edges so that the rounded edges are in pivotal engagement against the peripheral flange of the base as the rear wall of the lower duct portion is in sliding engagement against the rear wall of the elbow member when the lower duct portion is tiltably mounted on the elbow member; and an interlocking arrangement for securing the ventilation assembly to the base at a desired tilt angle.
 2. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the upper venting arrangement comprises a grating portion extending above the lower duct portion and defining vent openings.
 3. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 2, wherein the upper venting arrangement further comprises peripheral outwardly declining fins mountable on the grating portion in registration with the vent openings for defining airflow passages in communication with the vent openings.
 4. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 2, wherein the upper venting arrangement further comprises a cap mountable on an upper end of the grating portion.
 5. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 2, wherein the grating portion and the lower duct portion are adjoining portions of a same sheet of material folded and having opposite ends attached together to form an open ended boxlike structure.
 6. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 5, wherein the vent openings are made of rows of holes through the sheet of material.
 7. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of the elbow member has a flat shape upwardly and forwardly slanting with respect to a plane defined by the bottom peripheral flange so that the lower edge of the front wall of the lower duct portion extends next to the front wall of the elbow member when the lower duct portion is tiltably mounted on the elbow member.
 8. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 7, wherein the front wall of the elbow member has a forwardly slanting angle with respect to the plane defined by the bottom peripheral flange corresponding to a minimum tilting angle of the ventilation assembly on the base.
 9. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 7, wherein a distance between lower edges of the front and rear walls of the elbow member defines a curvature radius of the rear wall of the elbow member with respect to the lower edge of the front wall of the elbow member, the distance between the lower edges of the front and rear walls of the elbow member being greater than a distance between upper edges of the front and rear walls of the elbow member.
 10. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation assembly has an adjustable tilting range relative to the base corresponding to vertical/horizontal roof pitch ratios of 2/12 to 18/12.
 11. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of the elbow member has a height exceeding a height whereat the lower edge of the front wall of the lower duct portion extends relative to lower edges of the side and rear walls of the lower duct portion.
 12. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking arrangement comprises screws engageable with the lower duct portion and the elbow member.
 13. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the forwardly curving rear wall of the elbow member has a lower flat portion and an upper curving portion.
 14. The adjustable roof ventilator according to claim 13, wherein the lower flat portion of the forwardly curving rear wall forwardly slants with respect to a plane defined by the bottom peripheral flange. 